Lunch and an Olde Time Candy Store

On our way back from the RCR Racing Museum, we stopped at Smile's Lexington BBQ for some magnificent chopped pork BBQ, NC style.

 

 

This is the Court House in Lexington. 

 

 

Just down the street was The Candy Factory.  It was a real walk back into the past with the wide plank creaking wood floors and counters full of old style candies and antiques.

 



RCR Racing Museum

Visited the Childress Racing Museum today.  47,000 sq ft facility located in Welcome, NC.  Over 50 race cars including 25 of Earnhardt's Black #3.  Was also able to go through the 2001 Hauler - the last hauler used by Earnhardt before his fatal crash at the 2001 Daytona 500.  We took tons of pictures - a few are below.

The Wrangler Monte Carlo was Dale Earnhardt's ride to the '86 and '87 championships.  DE had 16 victories in this paint scheme.  As an aside, this is also the paint scheme DE was driving when he crashed Terry Labonte (my guy) at Texas Motor Speedway in '86.

 Dale was the first motor sports figure to grace a Wheaties box.

The silver paint scheme was driven commerating NASCAR's 25 year run with R J Reynolds.

 

 

Richard Childress drove this Tribute Monte Carlo to pace the field at Charlotte Motor Speedway in 2003.  

This car was Dale's workhorse in 1987, winning 4 of its 6 races.  It was victorious at North Wilkesboro 4/16/89 at the first race that NASCAR ran using radial tires.

 A few of the cool paint schemes.

A look in the Suspension Shop - shocks and rear ends.

A view from the "Fan Walk" at the shop.  This view to the right shows cars in various stages of prep; each row is for a different driver

This view to the left shows each driver's car for the upcoming race in its final prep area.

The 2001 hauler.  It was brought into this bay after the 2001 Daytona crash at the museum and never moved again.

At the other end of the RCR complex is rooms with trophies from Childress's many hunting trips.  Along with the trophies are some great ecology and environmental statements and information on ways to help with conservation of nature and wildlife.

Childress Vineyards

Yup, that Childress.  Richard Childress found a passion for wines and planted his first vines in 2002.  The Childress Vineyards opened their doors in 2004 and the complex now includes an outdoor plaza that can host 400, a Tuscan style Villa with meeting rooms and, of course, the tasting room and Bistro. 

Travel: Martinsville Speedway WV to Advance NC (80 mi)

Race weekend is over so its off to a nearby Resort until its time to head to Homestead-Miami Speedway for Championship Weekend.

Our Travel Map: www.tinyurl.com/SNSTravels (Green 44)

Its gonna be a rainy ride today.

Almost there... Driving by Richard Childress's Vineyard and Winery.  We'll be back later for a tour and lunch.

Arriving.

At Martinsville Speedway

Just walking around in the sun.

Trains come by about 3 times a day

Trucks still covered from the rain.

At the Track (Martinsville)

It seems to always rains at least one day when at a track.  We've been to 8 NASCAR races so far this year and it has rained at every one! 

Couldn't get both ends in the same frame but is was a complete rainbow.

Travel: Gladys VA to Martinsville VA (80 mi)

Another NASCAR race!! Yeah!!  This week is Martinsville Speedway. 

When Martinsville Speedway first opened, NASCAR was just an idea. When NASCAR was formed, Martinsville Speedway was a charter member, a membership that endures after more than 60 years.

Without a great deal of capital, but a passion for stock car racing, H. Clay Earles carved Martinsville Speedway out of the Henry County clay in 1947. He opened for business on July 4 of that year with just 750 seats but a crowd of over 6,000 fans.  A year later NASCAR was formed and in 1949 Martinsville hosted the sixth race in the series that eventually became the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

At just over a half-mile in length, Martinsville Speedway is the shortest track on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. The track has two 800-foot straightaways hooked together by short, tight and almost flat turns with just 11 degrees of banking.   The speedway today seats 55,000 and sells out almost every NASCAR race.

Our Travel Map: www.tinyurl.com/SnSTravels (Green 43)

Guarding the Christmas Tree fields.

A favorite café.

Views along the way...

Yes, you too may order your private porta-potty to be delivered to your site at the track!

Made it!

That's the track as seen from the main road through Martinsville.

Stopping for credentials.

That's our spot - #589

View from the dining table.

View out the back window.